Troika wants status as main topic in Kosovo talks

EU Kosovo envoy Wolfgang Ischinger met with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in Belgrade Tuesday. The German diplomat, who is in Serbia on a two-day informal visit, said after the meeting that the U.S.-Russia-EU Contact Group Troika agreed that the future negotiations on Kosovo should focus on the issue of its status. Troika wants status as main topic in Kosovo talks Ischinger also announced that the talks will continue, and added the envoys saw securing a compromise outcome that would get the green light at the UN Security Council as their "important goal". Kostunica, on the other hand, warned against unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. "Any country that would dare recognize the province's unilaterally declared independence would trample on Serbia's sovereignty and integrity in the crudest manner, at the same time humiliating the authority of the Security Council and the UN itself," a statement from the government quoted the prime minister. Kostunica also told Ischinger that Serbia will annul any illegal act proclaiming independence unilaterally, and "consider Kosovo its integral and inalienable part forever, in accordance with the UN Charter and the Serbian Constitution." Yesterday, following a meeting with Ischinger, President Boris Tadic said it was necessary for direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina, on the issue of Kosovo’s future status, to begin as soon as possible. Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic announced that a meeting between Belgrade and Kosovo Albanians had been confirmed to take place in New York. Samardzic added that the aim of the meeting with Ischinger was to "clarify Serbia’s vision of the province’s future status". Representatives of Kosovo Albanians and a Serbian government team met in Vienna last week for separate meetings with Troika's U.S., Russia and EU envoys, as 120 days of talks over the province's future resumed. Johnstone in Pristina Council of Europe rapporteur Lord Russell Johnstone, visited Pristina on Tuesday. Johnstone told reporters he had gone there into order to familiarize himself with the situation in Kosovo, and to amend the proposed resolution in Document 11018 for the province’s independence which was rejected at a session of the council in January. Following a meeting with Johnstone, UNMIK Chief Joachim Ricker said that after December 10, Kosovo should have a clear idea as to its future status. The CoE rapporteur also met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, and told reporters after the metings that Russia’s position and statements from Russian officials regarding Kosovo had taken him by surprise. “I expect the solution to the status problem to be found soon, because this continuing lack of clarity is doing damage to the economy and creating political tension in Kosovo,” he said. In his opinion, the issue will be settled in December. He voiced the hope that Russia would handle the matter with care, bearing in mind the solution for the issue would contribute to the stability of the Balkans.

Troika wants status as main topic in Kosovo talks

Ischinger also announced that the talks will continue, and added the envoys saw securing a compromise outcome that would get the green light at the UN Security Council as their "important goal".

Koštunica, on the other hand, warned against unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence.

"Any country that would dare recognize the province's unilaterally declared independence would trample on Serbia's sovereignty and integrity in the crudest manner, at the same time humiliating the authority of the Security Council and the UN itself," a statement from the government quoted the prime minister.

Koštunica also told Ischinger that Serbia will annul any illegal act proclaiming independence unilaterally, and "consider Kosovo its integral and inalienable part forever, in accordance with the UN Charter and the Serbian Constitution."

Yesterday, following a meeting with Ischinger, President Boris Tadić said it was necessary for direct talks between Belgrade and Priština, on the issue of Kosovo’s future status, to begin as soon as possible.

Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardžić announced that a meeting between Belgrade and Kosovo Albanians had been confirmed to take place in New York.

Samardžić added that the aim of the meeting with Ischinger was to "clarify Serbia’s vision of the province’s future status".

Representatives of Kosovo Albanians and a Serbian government team met in Vienna last week for separate meetings with Troika's U.S., Russia and EU envoys, as 120 days of talks over the province's future resumed.

Johnstone in Priština

Council of Europe rapporteur Lord Russell Johnstone, visited Priština on Tuesday.

Johnstone told reporters he had gone there into order to familiarize himself with the situation in Kosovo, and to amend the proposed resolution in Document 11018 for the province’s independence which was rejected at a session of the council in January.

Following a meeting with Johnstone, UNMIK Chief Joachim Ricker said that after December 10, Kosovo should have a clear idea as to its future status.

The CoE rapporteur also met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, and told reporters after the metings that Russia’s position and statements from Russian officials regarding Kosovo had taken him by surprise.

“I expect the solution to the status problem to be found soon, because this continuing lack of clarity is doing damage to the economy and creating political tension in Kosovo,” he said.

In his opinion, the issue will be settled in December. He voiced the hope that Russia would handle the matter with care, bearing in mind the solution for the issue would contribute to the stability of the Balkans.